President Donald Trump has signed S.J.Res.11, a joint resolution that disapproves the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) rule titled "Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources." This rule, published on September 3, 2024, under the previous administration, required new oil and gas leaseholders on the Outer Continental Shelf to submit archaeological reports in unsurveyed areas where operations proposed seafloor disturbing activities. The requirement imposed compliance costs on energy producers.
The Trump-Vance administration is focused on reducing regulations as directed by Executive Order 14192, "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation." Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is leading efforts to expand offshore drilling and reduce regulatory burdens.
“Focusing on innovation over regulation to solve the nation’s challenges is allowing us to smartly expand American energy and make our world cleaner and safer by selling energy to our friends and allies versus them having to buy it from our adversaries,” said Secretary Burgum.
Following President Trump’s national energy emergency declaration in February, Secretary Burgum implemented directives to reverse the withdrawal of Outer Continental Shelf areas from oil and gas leasing initiated by the previous administration. “Getting offshore lease sales to be regular, predictable, and at a level that allows us to maintain energy production in our country is a minimum standard for us,” he emphasized.
The Department of the Interior manages nearly 3.2 billion acres of the Outer Continental Shelf. Under Secretary Burgum's leadership, it remains committed to following legal guidelines for lease sales. Offshore drilling operations managed by the Department produced more than 667 million barrels of oil in fiscal year 2024, accounting for about 14% of all domestic oil production.
At his confirmation hearing, Secretary Burgum highlighted that offshore drilling plays a crucial role in the nation's economy. He noted that the United States has demonstrated its ability to develop energy resources “better, cleaner and safer than anyone else.”
The Department continues its mission to unlock America’s full potential in energy production while reducing consumer costs and generating revenue. Under the joint resolution enacted by President Trump through the Congressional Review Act, the Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources rule will no longer be effective. BOEM plans changes to the Code of Federal Regulations soon.
